RFEC
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M AT E T S I V I C T O R I A FA L L S V IC T OR I A FA L L S, Z I M BA BW E
Beauty of
Victoria Falls
There’s no doubt that Matetsi Victoria Falls’s drop-dead gorgeous suites are some the most spacious and glamorous in Zimbabwe, but it’s the scale of the concession that never fails to impress me. With 15km of private river frontage and 55 000 hectares to traverse, Matetsi Victoria Falls remains one of the most significant legacy investments the country has ever seen. It was my second visit and I needed to see game. (I didn’t the first time – it was a scorching 40 degrees one October and we spent time on the water counting hippos and watching the baby ellies playfully squirt and splash.) What a joy it was to see the transformation since 2010: game is now thriving, particularly the elegant but endangered giraffe.
Endless vistas of the river
For the architectural transformation, the Gardiner family chose to work together with young local architect Kerry van Leenhoff, who worked with local designers and crafters to create a bush retreat of hand-hewn stone, sun-bleached wood and neutral tones to soften the geometric elements. I especially enjoyed the artwork (a series of 13 separate works that make up the ordinance survey map of Matetsi Private Game Reserve when pieced together). Floor-to-ceiling glass doors open seamlessly to the riverine bush and river flowing beyond the private plunge pool – the same view shared by the gloriously large round bathtub, which is a complete indulgence. The lodge consists of two camps: East and West, each one with eight suites and an interconnecting family suite. In the middle of the two is the massage sala, fitness studio, wine cellar, library and boutique – all overlooking a luxurious 20m lap pool on the river bank.
Safari
Wanderlust
For absolute privacy, the exclusive-use River House commands an equally mesmerizing riverfront setting with uninterrupted views over the long pool and stylish black-andwhite loungers to the river beyond. Set apart from the rest of the lodge, and with four private suites and a central open-to-theelements living area, you could slip in here and remain unseen by the outside world for days, doing nothing but immersing yourself in the rhythm of the river and the bushveld.
PERFECT
H I D E AWAYS
www.perfecthideawaysforsale.co.za mandi@perfecthideaways.co.za